A Steeler’s Early Departure Becomes a Permanent Exit

LaGarrette Blount, in a game against the Jets on Nov. 9, was in for one play during Monday night's game.CreditChang W. Lee/The New York Times

By The Associated Press

Nov. 18, 2014

Pittsburgh released running back LeGarrette Blount on Tuesday less than 24 hours after Blount left the field early in a victory at Tennessee on Monday night.

Blount was in for one play during the Steelers’ 27-24 win and watched his teammate Le’Veon Bell run for 204 yards and a touchdown.

The Steelers signed Blount to a two-year deal in the off-season hoping he would provide power near the goal line. He rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown in a Week 3 win over Carolina, but his playing time diminished recently.

Blount also ran into trouble off the field. He was cited for marijuana possession during a traffic stop in August.

COLTS’ BRADSHAW ON I.R. Indianapolis has signed the former Pro Bowl return specialist Josh Cribbs and tight end Weslye Saunders after it placed running back Ahmad Bradshaw on season-ending injured reserve with a fractured left leg.

Cribbs worked out with the Colts (6-4) last week but has not played since being injured late last season. He is third in N.F.L. history with 10,505 career kickoff return yards.

Bradshaw was injured Sunday night against New England. He rushed for 425 yards and had a career-best six touchdown catches.

HARDY ‘PROBABLY’ DONE Carolina Coach Ron Rivera said he had “probably” given up hope that Greg Hardy would play again this season after the N.F.L.’s decision to suspend Vikings running back Adrian Peterson for the remainder of the year.

Hardy, a Pro Bowl defensive end, was placed on the exempt commissioner’s permission list Sept. 17, two months after being convicted on two counts of domestic violence. Hardy is appealing. His court date was recently pushed back to next year.

BAILEY MAKES IT OFFICIAL Champ Bailey said goodbye to the N.F.L. on Tuesday after signing a one-day contract with the Denver Broncos.

Bailey retired with a dozen Pro Bowl selections, 52 interceptions and no regrets.

Dozens of current players joined his former teammates John Lynch, Brandon Stokley, Brian Dawkins, Jake Plummer and Rod Smith in celebrating Bailey’s career.

Bailey became the Broncos’ most decorated defensive player and helped them reach the Super Bowl last season.

BENGALS CLEAR MCCARRON Cincinnati cleared the rookie quarterback A. J. McCarron to practice on Tuesday, saying he has recovered from a sore shoulder that has sidelined him since training camp.

A fifth-round draft pick, he has not practiced or played because of the injury. He was put on a nonfootball injury list and will get three weeks to practice before the Bengals have to decide whether to activate him. The Bengals want to develop him as a backup to Andy Dalton.

CARDINALS LOSE NIKLAS Arizona has placed the rookie tight end Troy Niklas on season-ending injured reserve and signed tight end Matthew Mulligan.

Niklas, a second-round pick from Notre Dame, missed much of the early season with an ankle injury, then sustained a high ankle sprain in last Sunday’s win over Detroit. Niklas appeared in seven games with three receptions for 38 yards.

A version of this article appears in print on , on Page B19 of the New York edition with the headline: Steelers Release Backup Running Back. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe